Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-04-23

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Well, Alfred, how are you teeling?"
i've service in Mexico, ne had seen nothing
of army life but the barracks, the parade
ground, and the holds Of transports. He
had tried his very best, he said. to learn
his duty, and do it; but the life, SO far,
had been distasteful to him, and at times
he had been dreadfully homesick. He had
written to his parents from several places
TO tell them that he was we'll. and (here he
smiled dolefully) contented: but pride had
prevented him from telling them that he
had enlisted.
The young fellow was so different from all
the others that az soon as heard his story
warmed to him. In my blunt way told
him to keep up good heart and courage.
and that would be his friend. pointed
eut to him that five years, his term of en-
listment, would soon pass, leaving him still
q very young man. and with stock of e1-
penenoe and discipline that would be Of
the greatest value to him in his future
life.
CAS- for your parents" said, you have
wrunged them; first, by leaving home with
as to your present situation. I'll ask Lieu
tenant Wilson for leave fer you to 20 into
the cabin and use his writing materials,
and do you ut right down aud pen them q
long letser, telling them the whole truth,
and send II back to Galveston by the
steamer. And you may say, if you please,
that you have found one friend, and his
name is Sergeant Perry"
He grabbed my hand and wrung it hard.
"God bless you. Sergeant" he said. II
have been hungering for some one to talk
to me like this. I feel stronger already.
Yes, III do Just as you say. Thank you,
ten thousand times!"
We disembarked near the site of the
present town of Washington, and after
spending three days in camp, to get all our
arrangements thoro ughly made for the
route, we st ,rted. Our hsb;tual order Of
march was, the wagons and ambulance in
the center, with a column of fours in ad-
vance and one at the rear. and hankers,
advance and rear guards well thrown out,
to guard against surprise. At night the
camp was formed around the wagons, and
pickets were we'll posted. ALI this proved
to me that our Lieutenant was thorough
soldier: but his own vigilance was untfr-
ing. On half the nights Of that march he
went around himself, inspecting the pick
cts; and when he did not, had bis oeders
to do it. As we progressed further from
the settlements we saw occasional parties
Of rowing Indians, but net in strong enough
force to cause us any apprehension. They
would ride to about three hundred yards Of
our column, survey us attentively, and then
scamper off. Some Of the men proposed
TO try the range of their carbines on them,
but the Lieutenant sternly forbade any ex-
hibition of hostility unless we were actually
attacked.
I had observed on the steamboat man
dressed in the uniform Of Major on the
STAFF, and upon the march saw that he
occupied the ambulance, never riding any
where else. BE messed with the Lieutenant.
md several times on the route saw the
latter ride up to the ambulance, part the
and lean over his saddle as it
talking with the person inside. But the
Major never exercised any command, and
seemed to be merely passenger. Several
times was asked by some Of the mon
what that officer was along for. My reply
always was that l did not know: that I sup
posed he was stationed at the fort. and was
returning there; and I usually added that
It was none Of their business. Not but
that felt quite O. much curiosity about it
a. they did. but military people rather like
to snub their subordinates once in while,
you know.
One morning, when We had been ON the
roste for about two hours, Lieutenant VIII
son came up to the head Of the column and
asked me to ride ahead with him. We took
IN easy gallop, and soon passed the
advance guard, riding perhAps two hundred
yards beyond them before he brought his
horse 70 walk.
II suppose this wouldn't ordinarily be
considered safe, he said; sbut, % you
know, We have seen no Indians for two
days, aad very much want to speak with
You whore We cannot be overheard. Bymy
il WIN be aklsase four days vet
bscsfs W caa reach tie fort and my No
sponsibi1iH b ct an end. Il has been
Weighing on ne severely, Sergeant; and
since you would b in command should I
be disabled, think you ought to know the
whole truth about the service We are on. I
have talked with the Major about it, and he
agrees with me. So I'll tell you. Haven't
You had any suspicion Of the facts?s
No, sir-except that / thought il rather
strange that it was thought necessary to
send ell this force six hundred miles merely
to escort one officer and three wagon loads
Of provisions and stores.
sWhy, Of course that was not the. real
object: and, considering vi i hard oct